Crestview MMA fighter Matt McKeon has experienced war, but he knows the violence he’ll see on Saturday night at the Pensacola Bay Center won’t be that.

A former Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army who served two tours in Iraq, McKeon (4-3-0) is set to square off against Turkish fighter Emre Örün (1-2-0) in a mixed martial arts match at Island Fights 41.

Donning a wide-brimmed camouflage hat with a military medal after Friday’s weigh-in, McKeon spoke about how his experience overseas – as well as the combatives training – gives him a different perspective than most fighters.

“The way I’ve always looked at it is in here, the worst thing that can happen is I get knocked out, choked out, put to sleep,” McKeon said. “But there ain’t anybody shooting at me. There ain’t anything going off (around me).”

“I’ve faced adversity in places that other people haven’t … it gives me a certain skillset as far as my mind going into it.”

Devin Cushing, left, and his opponent, Devin Parker, pose for pictures after the two fighter's make weight Friday night. The two boxers are on the main card for Saturday night’s Island Fights at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com

Pensacola's Devin Cushing, 19, following his weigh-in for his pro debut last August at Island Fights 39 at the Bay Center. To his left, is Dean Toole, his uncle and CEO of Island Fights.
Bill Vilona/bvilona@pnj.com

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Stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, McKeon returned to the area last year after a medical retirement from the military.

In his first fight back in Florida at Island Fights 40, McKeon stunned Chilean prodigy Ignacio Bahamondes with a first-round submission, taking advantage of a slip by Bahamondes and bringing the Chilean striker into uncomfortable waters.

“He had a lot of clean knockouts and had put on a good show, but my game plan the whole time was to drag him to the ground and tap him out because I knew he didn’t like to go there,” McKeon said.

“You put people in discomfort in fighting. That was the game plan and it went easy.”

That win followed McKeon’s 2016 win over Rance Jones (5-3-0) in Biloxi, Mississippi, further justifying his commitment to “just living this life” as an MMA fighter.

Those performances have impressed Island Fights promoter Dean Toole, who remarked on McKeon’s upset win and size at Friday's weigh-in.

“Huge, huge upset in the eyes of everybody who’s been watching Ignacio,” Toole said. “He’s lost one time (below heavyweight) to Abdul Razak, who’s currently in the UFC. All his other losses were at heavyweight.

“We didn’t know the size of this kid. He’s one of the biggest 170-pounders I’ve ever seen.”

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

R.J. Summerlin, blue tape, takes on Dakota Merritt during Island Fights 40 at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday night. Both fighters normally compete in MMA matches, but made their boxing debut against each other with this bout. The judges called the fight a majority draw with no winner.
Jody Link/online@PNJ.com

Roy Jones Jr. gets his right arm iced down in between rounds during the fight against Rodney Moore at the Island Fights 38 at the Pensacola Bay Center on Saturday, August 13, 2016.
Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Troy Kirkingburg interviews an MMA fighter after his win at Island Fights 38 in August. Kirkingburg's tragic death on Sept. 30 has cast an emotional backdrop for the next Island Fights show on Nov. 18.
Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Brok Weaver, blue gloves, and Rance Jones, Jr., red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Weaver won the fight and the Florida Welterweight belt by split decision after the fight went all five rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Frank Carrillo, blue gloves, and Mike Perry, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Perry knocked Carrillo out in the first round for the win.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Rico Farrington, blue gloves, and Ty Evans, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Farrington won in the 1st round after the referee stopped the fight.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Rico Farrington, blue gloves, and Ty Evans, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Farrington won in the 1st round after the referee stopped the fight.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Rico Farrington, blue gloves, and Ty Evans, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Farrington won in the 1st round after the referee stopped the fight.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Rico Farrington, blue gloves, and Ty Evans, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Farrington won in the 1st round after the referee stopped the fight.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Socrates Pierre, blue gloves, and Steve Burkes, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Pierre won in the 1st with a TKO.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Bobby Hill, blue gloves, and Freddy Wilhite, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Wilhite won via unanimous decision after the boxers went all six rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Bobby Hill, blue gloves, and Freddy Wilhite, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Wilhite won via unanimous decision after the boxers went all six rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Bobby Hill, blue gloves, and Freddy Wilhite, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Wilhite won via unanimous decision after the boxers went all six rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Bobby Hill, blue gloves, and Freddy Wilhite, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Wilhite won via unanimous decision after the boxers went all six rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Bobby Hill, blue gloves, and Freddy Wilhite, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Wilhite won via unanimous decision after the boxers went all six rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Bobby Hill, blue gloves, and Freddy Wilhite, red gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Wilhite won via unanimous decision after the boxers went all six rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com

Hannah Goldy, red gloves, and Gillian Robertson, blue gloves, fight each other Friday night during Island Fights 37 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Goldy won via unanimous decision after the fighters went all three rounds.
Jody Link/GoPensacola.com